Young artists give Jabulani Amphitheatre a modern look

03 February 2017

 

Seven budding Soweto artists have shared R37 000 in prizes in a steel art competition linked to the development of the multimillion-rand Jabulani Cultural Precinct in Soweto.

 

The development is being spearheaded by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), the City of Johannesburg’s property management entity.

The new Jabulani Cultural Precinct is to be developed on the site where the famous Jabulani Amphitheatre, the mecca of entertainment and political rallies in the 1970s and 1980s, stands. It will consist of a new-look amphitheatre, a music school, a restaurant and an artistic hub that will bring creatives together in one space.

The new amphitheatre itself will consist of a 3 000-seater auditorium, rehearsal studios, new performance stages and an outdoor gym.

The JPC, which is passionate about arts, had invited young Soweto artists to submit designs of street furniture, gateways, sculptures, architectural follies and landmark signage to be translated into steel sculptures to be used as permanent features of the cultural precinct.

The competition gave them a platform to showcase their works – which ranged from an ukhamba to a go-kart and everything in between – symbolising the amphitheatre and the figures that walked on its grounds.

Seven artists were chosen from hundreds of entrants and afforded the opportunity to work with the JPC to turn their drawings into sculptures. The artists expressed their talents through the steel dismantled from the original amphitheatre structure.

JPC Chief Executive Helen Botes said the original structure was dismantled to meet today’s health and safety standards. The material was then used for the art challenge.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Soweto-based artists to make a name for themselves and be a part of history. It’s the City’s objective to encourage active citizenry and we hope this will open doors for them and assists in availing opportunities in the future,” added Botes.

Moeketsi Makhetha, who won the R5 000 first prize in the gateway category with his piece titled Vuka Soweto, described his work as a functional piece that one could play around with. He said the steel was not painted to keep the authenticity of the sculpture.

“This piece has a poignant message. It reflects that what was once built by the apartheid government had its challenges. Today we are rebuilding it, one piece at a time, and everybody is making sure Soweto is rising,” said Makhetha.

Makhetha said the competition had contributed to skills development among artists.

“We had to use the amphitheatre as an inspiration for our artwork. This place has a rich history, a place that witnessed a lot of political gatherings and people who were passionate about making not only Soweto but South Africa a better place,” said Makhetha.